Travel case and caddy

ABSTRACT

There is provided a travel shower case including a tray. The tray includes a lip on one side of the tray. A cover is pivotally coupled to the tray. A lock member is slidingly coupled to the cover. The lock member is movable from a first position to a second position. The lock member includes a catch portion configured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in the first position. The lock member includes a hook portion operative when the lock member is in the second position, wherein the hook portion will support the tray.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to the field of travel accessories,and in particular to bath utility accessories, including a case forcontainers, with the case including a lock and a hook feature.

A traveler typically will take personal hygiene supplies along for use,usually, in hotel or motel rooms. Certain limitations by governmentalauthorities prohibit fluids exceeding certain volumes. Transportingfluids must be in secured containers. At the destination of thetraveler, the use of the personal hygiene supplies should beconveniently available, especially in a shower stall.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a travel shower case. The travel shower caseincludes a tray. The tray includes a lip on one side of the tray. Acover is pivotably coupled to the tray. A lock member is slidinglycoupled to the cover. The lock member is movable from a first positionto a second position. The lock member includes a catch portionconfigured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in thefirst position. The lock member includes a hook portion operative whenthe lock member is in the second position, wherein the hook portion willsupport the tray.

Another embodiment relates to a method for exposing a travel shower caseinterior. The case includes a tray defining an interior, a coverincluding a lock member having a hook member slidingly coupled to thecover, with the cover pivotally coupled to the tray. The method includesmoving the lock member from a first position substantially within theperimeter of the cover to a second position, wherein the lock memberunlocks the cover from the tray; and rotating the cover about a pivotmember coupled to the cover and the tray to a position longitudinallyparallel to the tray, wherein the interior of the tray is exposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a travel shower case according to anexemplary embodiment in an open position with a hook member coupled to areceiving member.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the travel shower case of FIG. 1 with thelock member shown in a first position according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the travel shower case of FIG. 1 with thelock member shown in a second position according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the travel shower case of FIG. 1 showingthe cover being rotated from a closed position to an open positionaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the travel shower case of FIG. 1 with thelock member shown in a third position and configured to engage areceiving member according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the travel shower case of FIG. 2 takenalong line 6-6 showing the engagement of a protrusion in the cover witha corresponding locating feature defined in the tray according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring in general to the FIGURES and especially to FIG. 1, a travelshower case 10 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Travelshower case 10 holds one or more containers 12 and includes a tray 20, acover 30, and a lock member 40. Travel shower case 10 is configured tobe manipulated between a closed or travel position and an open or useposition. According to an exemplary embodiment, the components of case10 are substantially formed from a molded (e.g., injection molded,vacuum molded, etc.) polymer such as a plastic or any other materialthat is resilient to water.

Tray 20 (e.g., container, receptacle, main body, etc.) is a generallythin-walled structure with an open side 22 exposing the interior of tray20. Tray 20 is configured to receive one or more containers 12 forvarious fluids used in the bathroom (e.g., shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, lotion, aftershave, etc.). While FIG. 1 shows four containers 12arranged side to side in one row, it should be understood that manyvariations are possible. For example, tray 20 may be configured toreceive more or fewer than four containers 12 or containers may bearranged differently in the interior of tray 20. Tray 20 includes a lip24 that extends outward from the open side 22. Lip 24 increases thestrength and stiffness of tray 20 and provides several other functionalroles as will be described in more detail below.

Cover 30 (e.g. lid, closure, top, etc.) is coupled to tray 20 and ismoveable between a closed position and an open position as shown best inFIGS. 3-5. According to an exemplary embodiment, cover 30 rotates abouta pivot member 32 coupled to lip 24 of tray 20. According to variousexemplary embodiments, pivot member may be a rivet, threaded connector,snap-fit, or any other feature or member that couples cover 30 to tray20 and allows cover 30 to rotate relative to tray 20. In the closedposition, cover 30 is positioned over tray 20 to form a generally closedstructure and cover 30 held in place with lock member 40. When cover 30is in the closed position, containers 12 are trapped within tray 20(e.g., during transportation of case 10, etc). Cover 30 may be formedfrom a transparent polymer to allow containers 12 to be visible whentravel shower case 10 is closed. According to other exemplaryembodiments, cover 30 may be substantially opaque or may include one ormore windows or other indicia to allow a person to see containers 12when cover 30 is in the closed position.

Cover 30 is rotated about pivot member 32 to the open position andaligned longitudinally with tray 20 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5) toexpose containers 12 and allow containers 12 to be removed from tray 20.Cover 30 includes one or more indexing feature, shown as protrusions 34.Protrusions 34 (e.g., nubs, bumps, stops, etc.) extend downward from theface of cover 30 proximate to an edge of cover 30. Two protrusions 34are provided symmetrically about pivot member 32. As shown best in FIG.6, protrusions 34 engage corresponding locating features 26 (e.g.,hollows, depressions, recessed areas, etc.) defined in lip 24 tosubstantially lock cover into place in the open and closed positions.Sufficient sideways force (e.g., in the direction of rotation aboutpivot member 32) applied to cover 30 disengages protrusions 34 fromlocating features 26 and allows cover to rotate about pivot member 32.Protrusions 34 may further include features shown as ramps 36 to aid indisengaging protrusions 34 from locating features 26.

Lock member 40 is slidably coupled to cover 30 generally opposite ofpivot member 32. According to one exemplary embodiment, lock member 40is coupled to cover 30 with a sliding member shown as a rivet 42 thatslides along a corresponding slot 38 in cover 30. According to otherexemplary embodiments, lock member 40 may coupled to the cover inanother way such as with a longitudinal channel or overhang such thatlock member 40 is allowed to slide relative to cover 30. As shown bestin FIG. 3, lock member 40 includes an end with a J-shaped cross sectionthat forms a catch portion 44. As shown in FIG. 2, in the firstposition, lock member 40 is slid along cover 30 such that catch portion44 engages lip 24. Catch portion 44 prevents cover 30 from rotatingabout pivot member 32 and prevents cover 30 from being lifted away fromtray 20. Referring to FIG. 3, when lock member 40 is slid away from tray20 to the second position, catch portion 44 disengages lip 24.

Lock member 40 further includes a hook portion 46. Hook portion 46 isaligned with cover 30 and is located within the perimeter of cover 30.Hook portion 46 is pulled away from cover 30 and brought into anoperable position when lock member 40 is slid away from cover 30 to thethird position. In the third position, hook portion 46 provides a hangerthat supports shower case 10 and allows shower case 10 to be suspendedfrom the shower head pipe (as illustrated in FIG. 1), a towel rack, asoap dish, the curtain rod, a hook, or any other suitable receivingmember or feature in the bathroom. Hook portion 46 includes a flexibleportion 48 formed from rubber or other suitable material. Flexibleportion 48 helps reduce the tendency of shower case to slide along atilted and/or water-slicked object such as a shower head pipe.

In the open position, containers 12 are exposed to a user and are heldwithin tray 20 by partitions 28 provided in the interior of tray 20.Containers 12 may be removed from tray 20 to dispense the fluid heldwithin containers 12.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining oftwo members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may bestationary in nature or moveable in nature and/or such joining may allowfor the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other typesof signals or communication between the two members. Such joining may beachieved with the two members or the two members and any additionalintermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary bodywith one another or with the two members or the two members and anyadditional intermediate members being attached to one another. Suchjoining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable orreleasable in nature.

The construction and arrangement of the elements of the travel showercase shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only.Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in thisdisclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure willreadily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g.,variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions ofthe various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, useof materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departingfrom the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recitedherein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may beconstructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements maybe reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discreteelements or positions may be altered or varied. It should be noted thatthe elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from anyof a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength ordurability, including any of a wide variety of moldable plasticmaterials in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made inthe design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplaryembodiments.

1. A travel shower case comprising: a tray, including a lip on one side of the tray; a cover pivotably coupled to the tray; and a lock member slidingly coupled to the cover, the lock member movable from a first position to a second position, the lock member including a catch portion configured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in the first position.
 2. The travel shower case of claim 1, wherein the lock member includes a hook portion operative when the lock member is in a third position, wherein the hook portion will support the tray.
 3. The travel shower case of claim 2, wherein the hook portion includes a flexible portion configured to inhibit slippage of the hook portion when the lock member is in the third position.
 4. The travel shower case of claim 1, including a pivot member coupled to the tray and the cover and configured to allow the cover to rotate about the pivot member when the lock member is in one of the second and third position.
 5. The travel shower case of claim 4, wherein the pivot member is located at a location on the tray opposite the lip engaged by the lock member.
 6. The travel shower case of claim 4, wherein the cover is rotatable about the pivot member to a position exposing the tray interior.
 7. The travel shower case of claim 6, wherein the cover is aligned longitudinally with the tray and configured to engage a receiving member.
 8. The travel shower case of claim 7, wherein the cover includes a protrusion proximate an edge of the cover, the protrusion configured to couple with a locating feature defined in the tray and locks the cover in one of a closed position and an open position.
 9. The travel shower case of claim 8, wherein the locating feature is defined proximate the pivot member.
 10. The travel shower case of claim 1, including a partition in the tray configured to engage a container.
 11. A method for exposing a travel shower case interior, the case including a tray defining an interior, a cover including a lock member including a hook member slidingly coupled to the cover, with the cover pivotally coupled to the tray, the method comprising: moving the lock member from a first position substantially within the perimeter of the cover to a second position, wherein the lock member unlocks the cover from the tray; and rotating the cover about a pivot member coupled to the cover and the tray to a position longitudinally parallel to the tray, wherein the interior of the tray is exposed.
 12. The method of claim 11, including the steps of aligning a protrusion defined on the cover with a locating feature defined in the tray and coupling the protraction with the locating feature to lock the cover in the open position.
 13. The method of claim 11, including the steps of moving the lock member to a third position, wherein the hook portion is fully exposed and coupling the hook portion to a receiving member. 